An EastEnders Ben Mitchell superfan has hit out at the negative reaction he has received to his £5,000 collection of personalised memorabilia from online trolls.

Shaun Smith has amassed an entire flat full of custom-made items emblazoned with the face of his hero, played by 26-year-old actor Harry Reid.

The 48-year-old's collection includes canvases, candles, photo frames and a life-size cardboard cut-out of the soap star.

Shaun, who considers himself to be Harry's biggest fan, personalises a lot of objects himself, using pictures he screenshots and attaching them to everyday household items including drink mats, snow globes and clocks.

But Shaun, from Basildon, has been bombarded with online abuse since his devotion to the BBC One actor's portrayal of hardman Phil Mitchell's son in EastEnders has been revealed.

Shaun Smith says Ben Mitchell from EastEnders helped him come to terms with his own sexuality.

"I've come out of my shell since watching Ben, I don't care now, it's Harry Reid who I have to thank for it," he said.

"It's not because I fancy him, but because of the role he plays.

"He helped me come out, that's why I like him, because of the way he's acted in EastEnders."

And Shaun, who is unable to work because of mental health problems, has found that watching Harry's portrayal of Ben has helped him cope with his own sexuality.

Estranged from his family after a difficult childhood, Shaun has been struggling with grief after the death of his mother, Jana, who died aged 74 after falling down the stairs two years ago.

Some of Shaun Smith's memorabilia featuring Ben Mitchell from EastEnders.

She had always been supportive of her son's sexuality, but this did not help him overcome his fears of being open about being gay.

That changed when Shaun, who is single, watched an episode of EastEnders where Ben Mitchell defies his father by kissing his secret boyfriend in the packed pub.

"About 8 months ago when I first saw Harry kissing the actor who plays Paul in the Queen Vic that was the moment, that made me think he's not afraid to be gay," said Shaun, who had never seen an EastEnders episode until a year ago.

"If he can play a part in EastEnders you can be like that in real life."

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It was this scene that sparked the beginning of Shaun's admiration, which had led to the mass decoration of his home, where he lives with his rescue dog Ruby.

But after news broke of the former chef's passion he's been called a "nonce" and a "paedo" by commentators on social media sites, owing to the 24 year age difference between himself and the soapland star.

A bedroom decorated with Ben Mitchell and EastEnders memorabilia.

"I don't care what people say but I do when they call me a nonce," he said.

"He helped me realise that being gay is okay and life isn't that bad because of the part he plays.

"I have had some lovely comments too and I thank those people.

"A lot of people have made friend requests and I'm accepting them but deleting them if they get nasty."

He has become so recognisable that he has even been asked for his autograph.